November 13 / 13.35 Punchestown

13.35

Soft To Heavy

Matchbook Betting Podcast 3-Y-O Hurdle

  • Prize money: £6582.64
  • 1m 7f 187y
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Matchbook Betting Podcast 3-Y-O Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Form: 4341 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Limited enough on the Flat (rated 59) but got off the mark at fourth time of asking over hurdles in Galway maiden (16.5f, yielding) last month; penalty to carry in deeper race and would prefer better ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

19th Aug 2026

Good

2m 4f 148y

19:18 Sligo

In The Minus

11st 9lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: Brian Francis Cawley

Won Galway 3yo maiden last autumn and back to form in C&D handicap 13 days ago, relishing longer trip to win going away under a patient ride; 8lb rise but can go well.

13/2

1st

5

6th Aug 2026

Good

2m 4f 168y

19:30 Sligo

In The Minus

11st 2lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: Brian Francis Cawley

Won Galway 3yo maiden in October; no impact in conditions races over hurdles since and never sighted in competitive Galway handicap last week; handicapper relenting.

12/1

18th

9

27th Jul 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 0f 130y

17:40 Galway

In The Minus

11st 8lb

J: Shane Fitzgerald

T: Brian Francis Cawley

Beat Whats New in a juvenile maiden hurdle here in October; no impact in conditions races over hurdles since and down the field in a Fairyhouse Flat handicap last time; others preferred on his handicap debut over hurdles.

33/1

Form: 89

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 12lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dam is out of a maiden half-sister to Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Sizing John but never a factor in a bumper and hurdle to date; unlikely winner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

30th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

15:20 Wexford

Ahellofaman

10st 0lb

J: Gavin Brouder

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Regressive over hurdles lately and well beaten sole chase start, so is not high on the list.

33/1

6th

15

24th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 50y

17:23 Kilbeggan

Ahellofaman

10st 7lb

J: G B Noonan

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Tailed off in last three starts; still early days but hard to fancy on evidence so far.

14/1

5th

5

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 5

17:10 Plumpton

Ahellofaman

10st 12lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: John Joseph Hanlon

Tailed off on chase debut last time; hasn't had much racing and he was second in a Fairyhouse handicap hurdle in February (2m, heavy), albeit some 12l off the winner; all his form is in the mud, except when well beaten in a good-ground bumper.

9/1

Form: 52

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 12lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Very weak Flat form this year but improvement over hurdles, building on solid Cork fifth when runner-up in 3yo maiden at Fairyhouse (2m, soft to heavy) nine days ago; in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

29th Jul 2026

Good

2m 6f 0y

17:35 Galway

Ill Be Handy

11st 9lb

J: James Smith

T: Matthew J Smith

Modest on the Flat; well beaten on handicap debut over hurdles in May but had some useful juvenile form and wouldn't be without hope should this new headgear combination trigger a return to that level.

40/1

8th

4

22nd May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 2f 185y

17:52 Downpatrick

Ill Be Handy

11st 10lb

J: James Smith

T: Matthew J Smith

Modest Flat maiden but has run some fine races in defeat in juvenile hurdles against some smart rivals; not as good in a Grade 3 last time with cheekpieces on; this is easier so is one to consider.

6/1

Form: 1-

Last run: 207 days

W: 10st 12lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to useful 1m4f AQPS Flat and 2m hurdle winner Last Kingdom; dam unraced half-sister to two French winners; won 1m4f newcomers AQPS Flat race (very soft) in April; reportedly schooling well at home; big player on first start for Gordon Elliott.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

7th Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 180y

17:51 Wexford

Mode Avion

11st 9lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

French bumper winner has never raced on better than yielding to soft; made the breakthrough for his current stable when taking a six-runner Fairyhouse contest by 12l on handicap debut; came up short off revised mark in Listed handicaps at Fairyhouse and Punchestown towards end of last season; ground a concern for return.

13/2

12th

20

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

15:40 Punchestown

Mode Avion

10st 0lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

French bumper winner; 4yo won easily on handicap bow at Fairyhouse in February (16.5f, heavy); came up short off 14lb higher back there on latest when 1lb wrong and similar story here; would probably prefer softer ground.

25/1

6th

18

4th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 0y

17:00 Fairyhouse

Mode Avion

10st 0lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Off the mark in 4yo C&D handicap in February (heavy) and better again when a clear second to a strong favourite in 2m1f Limerick conditions event last month on similar ground under today's rider, conceding plenty of weight; 1lb wrong but could go well off light weight.

9/1

Form: 6314

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 11lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Had In The Minus behind in third when off the mark over timber in 2m2f Ballinrobe maiden in September (soft), relishing the stamina test; well held on the Flat and over hurdles since but could improve in more testing conditions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

22

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 3f 58y

14:30 Punchestown

Sopelana

11st 4lb

J: Kevin Healy

T: Cian Collins

Has had a busy time since sent hurdling last August; three wins include two over 2m at this venue, including in a handicap with this rider aboard; form has been uneven; bounced back from a dismal Fairyhouse run when second at Navan, again for this rider.

14/1

2nd

2

21st Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 0f 0y

14:32 Navan

Sopelana

11st 1lb

J: Kevin Healy

T: Cian Collins

Has had a busy time of it since sent hurdling last August; three wins include a Punchestown handicap with this rider aboard; form has been uneven; has to bounce back from a dismal Fairyhouse run.

10/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 5lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made a successful handicap debut on the Flat at Wetherby (1m, good to firm) in June for Richard Fahey, but hasn't built on it; makes Irish/hurdles debut for Cian Collins and the ground looks against her.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

29th Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 179y

14:25 Thurles

Dream Angel

11st 0lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Cian Collins

Limited on the Flat and big prices when tailed off on both hurdle starts to date; safe to rule out.

125/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 5lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Off the mark in fine style in Down Royal maiden (10.5f, good) in June; runner-up in Roscommon conditions race next start before filling same spot on handicap debut last month; rated 98 on the Flat, has to be high on the shortlist on hurdles bow.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

(5)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 218y

Class 1

14:25 Goodwood

In My Teens

9st 0lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Gavin Cromwell

Didn't really take to hurdling but she relished the step up in trip in this code when easily winning a 13-runner handicap at the Curragh (1m4f, good) in June; she has to prove that brilliance was no one-off but it was certainly an impressive performance and she could have a part to play today.

6/1

1st

3

(12)

28th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

17:45 Curragh

In My Teens

9st 11lb

J: Gary Carroll

T: Gavin Cromwell

Down Royal maiden winner last June (10.5f, good); ran well in 1m2f handicap here last October and just 1lb higher here; shaped like coming back to form when keeping on from the back over 1m2f here latest; bred to stay this far; could go well.

12/1

9th

2

(16)

23rd May 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 2f 0y

14:30 Curragh

In My Teens

9st 12lb

J: Gary Carroll

T: Gavin Cromwell

Consistent last season; ended with C&D second behind today's rival Retracement on handicap debut; jumping let her down in juvenile hurdles; sharpened for return to the Flat by a handicap run at the Punchestown festival.

8/1

Betting Forcast

8/1 In The Minus, 150/1 Ahellofaman, 7/1 Ill Be Handy, 2/1 Mode Avion, 7/1 Sopelana, 50/1 Dream Angel, 11/8 In My Teens